Show case lighting fixture



May 30, 1933. P. D. PHILLIPS SHOW OASE LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Jan. 27,v 1930 @wf/QZ- Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL D. PHILLIPS, 0F DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR IO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MFG. C0., VOF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION. OF ILLINOIS SHOW CASE LIGHTING FIXTURE Application filedV January 2.7, 1930. Serial No'. ,423,650;

This invention relates to a show case lighting fixture and has special vreference to `such a fixture having lamp sockets therein connected to a feed through circuit in which sockets screw base lamps may be easily and quickly inserted by means of a. simple swing ing movement without requiring the usual screwing in operation.

An object of this invention is to provide a continuous show case lighting fixture having a feed through circuit to which lamp sockets may be attached at spaced intervals and electrically connected to the lead wires `without the necessity of breaking or cutting the wires.

vment' without the necessity of the usual screw threading operation.

A still further object is to provide a show case lighting iXture having a casing comprising an outer covering member and an inner reflector member spaced apart at the Vtop so as to form a channel through which the lead wires run whereby the same are protected and concealed. l

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawing in which latter:

Figure l is a faceV View oia show case fixture embodying my invention showing the lamps positioned in the sockets andheld in place by spring clips;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l showing the side and bottom contacts oi the socket in contact relation with the lamps;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the reflector member with the socket removed showing an insulation sheet placed over an opening in the reflector member and secured thereto;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation view partly in section taken on the line 4 4 or" Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the socket showing the same connected to the lead wires.4

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on Vthe line'G-b of Fig.` 5 showing the means of connecting the lead wires to the receptacle contacts.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the side and bottom contacts 'of the socket; and 1 Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a form of clip that may be used to hold alamp in contact relation in the socket.

Referring -to the drawing in detail, the

construction shown comprises a continuous show case lighting fixture made up of `a trough like reflector member l, which may be of any desired length, depending upon "the length of the show case in which it Iisf'toV be used, having a substantially'iiat top portion Q and side portions 3 and l. `At inter# vals along the retlector member l'openings A are cutv in the top portion 2 in which lare.

placed rigid sheets of insulating material@ having protruding portions 7 which lare-secured to the reilector member l -by riveting or any other desirable means. Receptacles 8 for receiving lthe lamp to be usedin'the fixture are attached to the insulating sheets 6 sofas to'be substantially within the reflector member Ll. g f

The receptacles 8 are so constructed'tliat tubular lamps 9 may be inserted therein by a simple swinging movement. In the pres-` ent disclosure the receptacles 8 are 'shownas being double sockets but if it is desirable single sockets may be used.v These receptacles comprisean insulating base 10 which has U-shapedvsidel port-ions forming lamp re! ceiving recesses 1l constructed so as to be slightly wider than the base oi' the lamps to be inserted therein Vand having taperingl inserting entrances l2 so that a lamp may be placed in the positionshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 and lthen inserted in contact position in the recess by merely swinging the bulb'end of the lamp upward. 'The lamp 'is then held Ain place by means of spring adapted to engage respectively the sidev and bottom contacts of the lamp to be inserted therein. These contacts are shaped as shown in Fig. 7 being formed from strips of conducting material. The side contact 14 is adapted to be secured to the insulating base 8 by means of a screw 15 which passes throughV the. aperture 16 which is midway between the ends of the contact14. This strip 14 is then bent so as to form humps 17 adjacent the opening 16 on each -side thereof. The ends of :the stri-p 14: have` enlarged portions -L 18-extending transversely of the strip 14. It is these enlarged portions 18 w'hich come in contact-witlrthe 'f side contacts of the lamp. The enlarged portions 18 are formed with bent up end portions v18a so as notto obstruct the in.

conducting material .having an opening -20 K.midway between the ends through which .the

f'30screw` 21- is. passed and then threaded .into the insulatingbase .10 so as to hold 'the strip .-securely. `This strip :also has two .humps adjacent .theopening207 :beyondwhich it is .bent down so as Ito .lie adjacent thebottom ofthe recess; llas-shown in Eigs..4 and 7. ,The screws and121 also. serve fto connect fthe..lead.wires 22 .and 23' to Athe side-.and end'conta'cts of. the receptacle. The .insulation` onthe portions of these wires .j ust..above -1T=40...thejreceptacle is removed-.and the baredpor- .tions .ofthe wires. are .thenbentdown to lie on the `contacts 14 and 19 betweeny the -humps.17 and 24. .The screws 15 and 21 arefthenthreaded finto. the. base 10 so .that eiwjthescrew heads .hold the .bared portions ofthe wires against the .middle portions-of .theside contact 14 andthe Vend cont-aet19 respectively. Y y

.'Atrough like casing member25. having .side E.portions .26a and. .266 slightly i wider Athan thesideyportions 3 and .4 ofthe're- [.flector 1.is placed over therefiectorl member A 1. so that. there is a space between the: two at the top. linsulating spacers 26 and 27 :'-having enlarged shoulder portions28 and 29 .serve'tohold the casing member 25 inspaced Irelation to the reflector 1. y.These insulating spacers26 and. 27 are inserted-downwardly --in` the perforations 30 and..31 of. the.;insu .lation .sheet 6- being :held in place by. :the -shoulderportions28 and.29. The insulating spacing member 26 is threadedato receivea screw. 32. which is .inserted through an aper- ;.tu-re-.32a..in the insulating base and. isthen #W5 .threadedfinto thev lower portion `of the ,spacing member 26, whereby the receptacle 8 is secured to the insulating strip within the reflector 1. A screw 33 is inserted through an opening in the casing and is then threaded into the top portion of the spacing member 26thus holding the casing 25 inposition over the reflector member 1. A wood screw 34 passes upwardly through the apertures 34a in the insulating base 10 and 1.2701I :inthe insulating spacer.. 27. and `islthen screwedinto Vthe wood` framerfof the show case to secure the whole fixture in position within the show .case as shown in Fig. 2. Although the screws 32, 33 are here shown as holding the fixture in assembled position. 80 `and the screw Maas-holding. the.:fixture to the show. casezit is evident. that-otherzmeans A .might beused equally well.

vlA-thinstrip of insulation ,35is, ,placed overthetops. of.` 'the spacers 26..and.,27f.be;85

tween said spacersand the 4casing25. .-This serves Atosprotectthe. baredgportion ofthe lead wires 4irom shortcircuit by Contact with the casing25. The-leadwires Iwhich for1n..a;feed. through circuit.` are placed inem) 4the spaceformed between .the `top of the .reflectorland the casing25. .Thesewires 22 and. 23 are' bent .down through, the holes `3v6-and37 -in the insulation .sheets 6 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and are then connectede to. the contacts of. the receptacle z 8.as previously explained. By .means of theseinsulating sheets 6.and35 theportionsof the lead wires which arebaredto contact-with 4the receptacle contacts are fully y protected 100 andv thereis no lpossibilityof a short circuit. l/Vhile but a single embodimentk ofthis .invention is herein shown .and described,` it

isto .be understood.- that various modifications thereof will be-.apparent .to those sli'lled.;f.1o.3 in the art .withoutdeparting iromfthespirit A and -sc'opewof this inventiornwand. therefore the .latter is to be .limitedonly .by the. scope of the prior art and,theappendedclaims.

V. I claim: V

A1. vA showcase lighting fixture comprising a 1v ,troughlike reflector .member,. an insulating receptacle member secured .there in having a horizontally extending, portion substantiallyU-shaped .in cross-section' form- 115 t inga lrecess for receiving the base of atubu- ,.larl;lamp.andhav1ng contacts for. engaging with Vthe contacts ofsaid la1np,.said recess being.' of-,greater width than. the Vdiameter of .said lamp basen and having a .fiaredinserti .112`

Y ing. entrance at. the rounded ,iside of,.said

recess whereby a lamp maybe inserted. in said fixture by placing the .lamp baseinfthe insertingentrance lof said. receptacle .and

swingingfthe bulb end of said lamp inwardly 2125 into saidcasing. 4

2. A .show .case lightingv fixture comprising a troughlike reflector member, van insulat- `ing. receptacle memberr secured .therein vhaving a horizontally extendingportion substani430 tially U-shaped in cross-section forming a recess for receiving the base of a tubular lamp and having contacts for engaging with the contacts of said lamp, said recess being of greater width than the diameter of said lamp base, and having a iared inserting entrance at the rounded side of said recess whereby a lamp may be inserted in said fixture by placing the lamp base in the inserting entrance of said receptacle and swinging the bulb end of said lamp upwardly into said refiector, and a spring clipA attached tosaid refiector member adapted to engage the bulb end of said lamp to hold the lamp securely in contact position in said receptacle.

3. A show case lighting fixture comprising a troughlike reiiector member, an insulating receptacle member secured therein having a hollow horizontally extending portion open along one side forming a recess for receiving the base of a lamp and having side and bottom contacts adapted to engage respectively the side and end contacts of said lamp, said side contact being resiliently positioned in the open side of said horizontally extending portion so as to press against the base oi? said lamp and hold the lamp in contact position.

4. A show case lighting fixture comprising a troughlike reflector member, an insulating receptacle member secured therein having a horizontally extending portion substantially U-shaped in cross-section forming a recess the rounded side of said portion being flared so as to permit the insertion of a lamp by a simple swinging movement, said receptacle having side and bottom contacts adapted to engage respectively the side and end contacts of' a lamp to be inserted therein, said side contact being resiliently positioned in the open side of said recess so as to press against the base of said lamp and hold the same in contact position.

5. A show case lighting fixture comprising a troughlike reflector member, a double receptacle member secured therein having oppositely extending horizontal portions substantially U-shaped in cross-section forming recesses the rounded sides of said portions being fiared so as to permit the insertion of lamps by a single swinging movement, said receptacle having side and bottom contacts adapted to engage respectively the side and end contacts of lamps to be inserted therein, said side contacts being formed of a single strip of conducting material having enlarged transversely extending end portions, said enlarged portions being resiliently positioned in the open side of said recess so as to press against the base of said lamp and hold the same in contact position, and said bottom contacts being formed of a single strip of conducting material having enlarged transversely extending portions, said enlarged portions being bent down so as to lie adjacent the bottom of said lamp receiving recesses.

6. A show case lighting fixture comprising a troughlike casing, a troughlike reiector member housed thereby, an insulating member secured in said casing having an unthreaded recess for receiving the base of a lamp and having side and bottom contacts adapted tofengage respectively the side and center contacts of said lamp, said first side contact being resiliently positioned in said recess at one side thereof, and said insulating member having an inserting entrance flared on the side remote from the reflector sufcientl to enable the lamp to swing outwardly w en fully inserted without substantial axial movement whereby a lamp may be inserted therein by placing the lamp base in the inserting entrance of said insulating member and swinging the bulb end of said lamp inwardly into said casing..

7. A show case lighting fixture comprising a troughlike member, a troughlike reflector member housed thereby, an `insulating member secured in said casing having an untlireaded recess for receiving the base ci a lamp and having side and bottom contacts adapted to engage respectively the side and center contacts of said lamp, said first side contact being resiliently positioned in said recess at one side thereof, said insulating member having an inserting entrance iared on the side remote from the reflector sufficiently to enable the lamp to swing outscribed my name.

PAUL D. PHILLIPS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,911,646. May '30, 1933.

PAUL D. PHILLIPS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 52, claim 5, for "single" read "simp1e"; and that the said Letters Patent shouid be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

